The department obligated an initial $18.5 million when the agreement was signed. The contract covers the design, certification and integration of new main rotor blades.
The upgraded blades are intended to improve the flight characteristics of the helicopters. The VH-92A fleet transports the U.S. president and other senior government officials.
Lockheed Martin delivered 23 VH-92A Patriots to the Department of War. The aircraft are based on the company’s multirole S-92 Superhawk helicopter.
The fleet includes 21 operational helicopters and two test aircraft. The test platforms support evaluations of new systems and structural modifications.
The VH-92A completed its first operational flight with a U.S. president aboard in August 2024. Joe Biden used the helicopter during a visit to the Chicago area.
Some flights are currently limited by infrastructure conditions around the White House. The restrictions have prompted work on facilities used by the presidential helicopter fleet.
The White House South Lawn is among the areas undergoing modification. The project includes a fully hardened surface funded by Lockheed Martin.
